Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus.



J. R. HAMiLTON.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6.1914.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

nu: NDIKIS Psrsns co TED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN R. HAMILTON, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 SYPHO-CHEMICAL vSPRINKLER CORPORATION, OF CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NEWYYORK, CORPORA- 1 1 vTION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,605.

To all whom it may concern: 7 I

Be it known that I, JOHN R. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Yonkers, county of Westchester, State of New York, havemade a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Automatic Fire-ExtinguishingApparatus, of whichthe following is a specification, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms part of thesame This invention relates especially to automatic fire extinguishingapparatus in which the distributing system may comprise automaticsprinkler heads, hose connections or other distributing devices and ispreferably normally charged with water or other nonfreezingextinguishing liquid for low temperature work.

To maintain the desired pressure in the system under normal conditions aself-sustaining static pressure pipe may be connected with and extendabove the system and if desired may be in the form of a hollow flag poleon top of the building. A suitable float may be-arranged within thisstatic pressure pipe which may be'lof limited capacity and under fireemergenoyconditions the lowering of this float may be utilized toactuate various emergency devices on the withdrawal of liquid from thesystem and may bring into action a chemical supp-lyltank orother'supplemcntal liquid supply to supply additional extinguishingliquid to the system under the desired high service pressure I Theaccompanying drawing shows in a somewhat diagrammatic way illustrativeems bodiments of this invention, the drawing being an elevation, partsbeing shown in section to more clearly indicate their construction.

The distributing system may be of any desired construction and may asindicated omprise one or more risers or supply pipes 1, to which may beconnected various distributing pipes, such as 2, on which automaticsprinkler heads or-distributing devices 3 may be arranged at suitableintervals and the s stem may also comprise other distributin evices,such as the hose connection 5, to winch hose lines maybe connected andoperated when the valve 4 is opened. The distributing system may benormally filled with water or other aqueous extinguishing liquid -suchas a suitable solution of soluble and substantially inert salts toreduce the freez- Patented Oct. 22, 1918;

other extinguishing liquid employed in con- I nection with the system.It is desirable to normally maintain the distributing system underconsiderable pressure so as to promote the opening and initial operationof the distributing devices and this may be conveniently effected byconnecting to the distributing system in any suitable way an qipwardlyextending static pressure pipe lled or charged with the extinguishingliquid so that its ravity head causes the desired normal static pressureof about ten pounds or more per square inch in the system. Where themain supply of extinguishing liquid is derived from a chemical tank orother supplemental liquid supply during the emergency operation of thesystem the static pressure pipe may be made of relatively small capacityand in many instances it may with advantage be given an internaldiameter of six or eight inches more or less and be extended up beyondthe roof of the building and may be secured to any upwardly extendingchimneys or other structures or even be rendered self-sustaining so asto obviate the necessity for expensive supporting means. As indicated inthe drawing the static pressure pipe 6 connected to the distributingsystem may be so firmly su'pported and of such rigid construction as tobe selfsustaining and may project to the desired the usual devicesinstalled so that the.

pressure pipe can be used as a regular flag pole without interferingwith its action in connection with the distributing system through thewithdrawal of the extmguishing liquid 37 in this pressure pipe, one ormore suitable vents such as 35 being preferably provided to prevent lossof head. One or more cut-ofl' valves are preferably installed inconnection with the pressure pipe or flag pole extension thereof toprevent undesirable escape of liquid from the distrlbuting system duringemergency operation,

and if desired automatic closing or out off valves such as all may bearranged to close each of the vents 35 under the high pressures andvelocities of emergency operation to prevent further escape of air.

If desired the alarm or emergency devices may be actuated through asuitable float arranged within the pressure pipe and for this purposethe. float such as 8 may be mounted on a suitable float stem 9 so as toactuate the emergency devices in any suitable .vay as through anydesirable form of loose connections with the lower portion of the stem.If desired a suitable link such as 11, may be arranged on the bottom ofthis stem and cooperate with any control or actuating devices which maybe convenient y located within a controller casing 36. These controldevices may comprise the control arm or member 23 mounted on a suitablepivot 38 within the casing and having a control pin such as 12cotiperating with the link so as to provide the desired baclelashbetween these parts. Thus when under en'iergency condi tions the liquidlevel falls in the pressure pipe the link descends until the upper endof the slotcomes into contact with the pin 12 and thereafter the desiredactuatingmovement of this control member is caused by the furtherdescent of the float. It is for some purposes desirable to have a lessgradual and more forcible actuating movement and this "maybe efiected bythe use of a suitable impact actuating weight, such connected with thecontrol member so that when the actuating movement has taken place to acertain extent this weight comes into action so as to cause a sharpimpact actuation n the desired elements of the emergency or controldevice and minimize the possibility of sticking or corrosion of lockingparts.

The control member may actuate any desired alarm or emergency device andmay as indicated bring into action any suible suppleinent-al liquidsupply "for the system such as a chemical supply tank whose mixingdevices are actuated by the control members. The chemical supply tanlrmay be normally charged with carbonate extinguishing liquid 34- and havea tipping acid container 28 mounted therein so to swing about the pivot29. This container may l he the latch 27 with which the cat-eh 26 on theactuating stem 2st may cooperate, this stem being conveniently mountedin a suitable flexible diaphragm so as to readily move to the desiredextent without allowing leakage between these parts of the apparatus.The control arm is so arranged as to come into sudden and forciblecontact with the actuating stem so as to disengage th catch from thecontainer latch and allow the container to tip so that the desiredemergency pressure l through chemical action. The e? as ting'uishingliquid is under these condili instance forced into the'controller casingor other partot the distributing system through the supply connection-31 which may be provided adjacent its lower end with a strainer, such as32, and which may have any suitable automatic check or control valve ordevice such as the check valve 30 so as to permit the emergency supplyof liquid in this way and makepossible the high pressure emergencyoperation of the system at a pressure of :30 to 100 pounds or more persquare inch.

It is desirable for some purposes to have a suitable alarm or indicatorto'call attention to a low water condition in the static pr ssure pipeand thus enablethis condition to be rectified-it ca-used'by slow leakageorthe like before it causes the emergency operation or the system. Forthis purpose a low water or leak alarm may be used'and preliminarilyoperated by the descentot water in the pressure pipe (Sbetor'e the pointis reached at which the chemical supply tanlris brought into action andthis maybe conveniently ettected by acontact pin such as 13011 the floatstem which the buoyancy of thefioat normally holds up against an alarmor contact" lever 1% which may if desired'have a bifurcated end; Thislever, may be conveniently mounted in a flexible diaphragm such as 15 sothat its outer end is normally held down against the stop 16 so as towithdraw the electric contact 18 from the cooperating insulated contact17 which may be in circuit with the bell 19 through the. wiresZO andbattery 21. Thus in case of leakage from the distributing system thefloat begins to le scend after the level of the extinguishing liquid 37has descended through the inter vening several feet or more which arealloweth to take care of slight leaks and so forth. Then the float andstem gradually descend and the outer end of the ontact lever is allowedto swing upward through the action of the connected; spring 42 so as tobring the contacts 17, 18 together and operate the electric indicatingor alarm device such as the electric alarm shown. If desired also avisual indicator may be used to indi cats at any time the ellective heador height of the liquid in the pressure pipe and for this purpose asuitable pressure gage such as 39 is shown as connected to the system sothat the height of the mercury l0 indicates on a suitable scale theheight of the Water or non-ireezing liquid in the hollow flag poleabove.

This invention has been described in connection with a number ofillustrative embodiments, parts, materials, and arrangements,-to thedetails of which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limitedsince what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured byLetters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezing extinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including automatic sprinkler heads, a connectedsmall capacity static pressure pipe extending above said distributingdevices, a float in said pressure pipe below the normal level of theextinguishing liquid therein, a con nected float stem, a control casingcommunicating with said pressure pipe, a control member pivotallymounted in said casing and loosely connected with said stem through apin and slot connection, an impact actuating device cooperating withsaid control member, a chemical supplemental liquid supply tank tosupply extinguishing liquid to said system under 7 emergency conditions,chemical mixing actuating devices comprising an actuating control memberto be thereby given an im pactactuating impulse on the descent of theliquid in said pressure pipe, a flexible separating diaphragm on whichsaid actuating stem is mounted and located in a passage between saidcasing and said supply tank and said distributing system.

2. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezingextinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including automatic sprinkler heads, a connectedsmall capacity static pressure pipe extending above said distributingdevices, a float in said pressure pipe below the normal level of theextinguishing liquidtherein, a connected float stem, a control memberpivotally mounted and loosely connected with said stem, an impactactuating device cooperatingwith said control member, a chemicalsupplemental liquid supply tank to supply extinguishing liquid to saidsystem under emergency conditions. chemical mixing actuating devicescomprising an actuating stem cooperating with said control member to bethereby given an impact actuating impulse on the descent of theiliquid'in said pressure pipe, a flexible separating diaphragm on which saidactuating stem is mounted and located in a passage between said casingand said supply tank andja valved supply connection between said supplytank and said distributing system.

3. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezing extinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including automatic sprinkler heads. a connectedsmall capacity static pressure pipe extending above said distributingdevices, a float in said pressure pipe below. thenormal level of theextinguishing liquid therein, a connected float stem. a control memberloosely con nected with said stem, a chemical supplemental liquid supplytank to supply extinguishing liquid to said system under emersaid stemcooperating with said pressure pipe,

pipe extending above said distributing devices, a float in pressure pipebelow the normal level of the extinguishing liquid therein, a connectedfloat stem, a control member loosely connected with said stem, asupplemental liquid supply to supply extinguishing liquid to said systemunder emergency conditions, actuating devices comprising an actuatingstem cooperating with said control member to be thereby given anactuating impulse on the descent of the liquid in said pressure pipe,and a valved supply connection betem.

5. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with extinguishing liquid and comprising distributingdevices, a connected small capacity pressure pipe extending above saiddistributing devices, a float in said distributing system below thenormal level of the. liquid therein, a connected float stem, a controlmember pivotally mounted and loosely connected with said stem through apin and slot connection,v an impact actuating device cooperating withsaid control member to eifect an impact actuating impulse on theemergency withdrawal of the liquid in said system and a preliminary lowwater alarm actuated by said float before said control member isactuated.

6. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with extinguishing distributing devices, a connectedpipe extending above said distributing devices, a float in saiddistributing system below the normal level of the liquid therein, aconnected float stem, a control member loosely connected with said stem,an impact actuating device cooperating with said control member toeffect an impact actuating impulse on the emergency Withdrawal of theliquid in said system and a preliminary low water alarm actuated by saidfloat before said control member is actuated.

7. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with extinguishing liquid and comprising distributmgdevices, a connected pipe extending abovesaid distributing devices,afloat in said distributing system between said supply and saiddistributing sysliquid and comprising v a preliminary low the normallevel of the liquid therein,

a cotiperating control member arranged in the liquid in saiddistributing system to effect an actuating impulse on the emergencywithdrawal of the liquid in said system and low water alarm actuated bysaid float before said control member is ac tuatedi 9. In automatic fireextinguishing apparatus. distributing system normally charged withexting guishing liquid and co1nprising distributing devices, a connectedpipe extending above said distributing devices, a float in saiddistributing system below the normal level of the liquid therein, and acooperating control member to effect an actuating impulse on theemergency withdrawal of the liquid insaid system.

10. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with extinguishing liquid and comprising distributingderices, connected pipe extending above said distributing devices, afloat in said distributing system below the normal level of the liquidtherein, a coiiperating control member and an impact actuating devicecooperating with said control member to effect an impact actuatingimpulse on the emergency withdrawal of the liquid in said system.

11. in automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezing extinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including automatic sprinkler heads and hoseconnections, a connected small capacity static pressure pipe extendingabove said distributing devices and comprising a substantially selfsustaining hollow pole extending above the top of the building pro videdwith a vent adjacent its upper portion and containing said extinguishingliquid, a cut-off valve to prevent undesirable escape of liquid fromsaid system into or from said pressure pipe during emergency operation,a float in said pressure pipe below the normal level of the liquidtherein, a connected fioat stem, acontrol member loosely connected withsaid stem through a pin and slot connection, a chemical supplementalliquid supply tank to supply extinguishing liquid to ns-i said systemunder" emergency conditions, with charged with non-freezingextinguishingliquid and comprising distributing devices includingautomatic sprinkler heads, a connected small capacity static pressurepipe extending above said distributing devices and comprising asubstantially self sustaining hollow pole extending above the top of thebuilding provided with a ventadjacent its upper portion and containingsaid extiir guisliing liquid, a cut-off valve to prevent undesirableescape of liquid from said system into or from said pressure pipe duringemergency operation, a float in said pressure pipe below the normallevel of the liquid therein, a connected float stem, 21- control memberloosely connected chemical supplemental to supply extinguishing liquidto said system under emergency conditions, chemical mixing devicescotiperating'with said con trol member to be thereby given an actuatingimpulse on the descent of the liquid in said pressure pipe, an indicatorconnected to said system to indicate the height of liquid therein and apreliminary low Water alarm actuated by said float before said controlmember is actuated.

13. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezing liquid and comprising distributingdevices including a connected small capacity static pressure pipeextending above said distrib uting devices and comprising asubstantially self-sustaining hollow pole extending above the top of thebuilding, provided with avent adjacent its upper portion and containingsaid extinguishing liquid, a cut-off valve to prevent undesirable escapeof liquid from said system into or from said pressure pipe duringemergency operation, a float in said pressure pipe below the normallevel of the liquid therein, a chemical supplemental liquid supply tankto supply extinguishing liquid to said system under emergencyconditions, and chemical mixing devices 00- operating with said float tobe thereby given an actuating impulse on the descent of the liquid insaid pressure pipe.

1%. in automatic fire extinguishing appa ratus, distributing systemnormally charged with extinguishing liquid and comwith said stem, aliquid supply tank extinguishing V emergency conditions, and

prising distributing devices including a connected small capacity staticpressure pipe extending above said distributing devices and comprising asubstantially self-sustaining hollow pole extending above the top of thebuilding provided with a vent adjacent its upper portion and containingsaid extinguishing liquid, a cut-ofl valve to prevent undesirable escapeof liquid from said system into or from said pressure pipe duringemergency operation, a float in said pressure pipe below the normallevel of the liquid therein, a supplemental liquid supply tank to supplyextinguishing liquid to said system under emergency conditions, andactuating devices cooperating with said float to be thereby givenanactuating impulse on the descent of the liquid in said pressure pipe.

15. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with n0n-freezing extinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including a connected small capacity staticpressure pipe extending above said distrib uting devices and comprisinga hollow pole extending above the top of the building and containingsaid extinguishing liquid, a cutoil valve to prevent undesirable escapeof liquid from said system into or from said pressure pipe duringemergency operation, a float in said pressure pipe below the normallevel of the liquid therein, a chemical supplemental liquid supply tankto supply extinguishing liquid to said system under chemical mixingdevlces cooperating with said float to be thereby given an actuatingimpulse on the descent of the liquid in said pressure pipe.

16. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with extinguis ing liquid and comprising distributingdevices including a connected small capacity static pressure pipeextending above said distributing devices and comprising a hollow poleextending above the top of the building and containing saidextinguishing liquid, a cut-off valve to prevent undesirable escape ofliquid from said system into or from said pressure pipe during emergencyoperation, a float in said pressure pipe below the normal level of theliquid therein, a supplemental liquid supply tank to supplyextinguishing liquid to said system under emergency conditions, andactuating devices coiiperating with said float to be thereby given anactuating impulse on the descent of the liquid in said pressure pipe.

17. In automatic fire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing systemnormally charged with non-freezing extinguishing liquid and comprisingdistributing devices including automatic sprinkler heads, a connectedsmall capacity self-sustaining static pressure pipe containing saidextinguishing tical pipe together liquid and provided with a valved ventand extending above said distributing devices and above the roof of thebuilding adapted to be used as a flagpole, a chemical supplementalliquid supply tank to supply extinguishing liquid to said system underemergency conditions, chemical mixing devices and a cooperatingactuating member to be given an impact actuating impulse on thewithdrawal of the liquid from said distributing syste 18. In automaticfire extinguishing apparatus, a distributing system normally chargedwith extinguishing liquid and comprising distributing devices, aconnected small capacity static pressure pipe containing saidextinguishing liquid and extending above said distributing devices, asupplemental liquid supply to supply extinguishing liquid to said systemunder emergency conditions, a cooperating actuating member and an impactmember arranged within the liquid in said pressure pipe and adapted tostrike said actuating member on the withdrawal of the liquid from saiddistributing system.

19. A fire extinguishing system including fire extinguisher agent supplymeans having a movable controlling element, a distributing pipe leadingfrom said supply means, a vertical pipe connected to said distributingpipe and having valved normally closed leaders or laterals, a vesselfitted upon the upper end of said vertical pipe, the vessel and thevertical pipe together with its leaders or laterals containing anon-freezing liquid, a float arranged within the vessel, an operativeconnection between the float and the controlling element to cause anoperative movement of the latter consequent to the descent of the floatin said vessel and means for preventing the escape of the extinguishingagent through said vessel.

20. A chemical mixing fire extinguisher system including a tank, aninvertible acid bottle arranged therein, a movable controlling elementfor the acid bottle, a distributing pipe leading from the tank, avertical pipe connected to said distributing pipe and having valvednormally closed leaders or laterals, a vessel fitted upon the upper endof said vertical pipe, the vessel and the verwith its leaders orlaterals containing a non-freezing liquid, a float arranged within thevessel, an operative connection between the float and the controllingelement to cause an operative movement of the latter consequent to thedescent of the float in said vessel and means for preventing the escapeof the extinguishing agent through said vessel.

21. A fire extinguisher system including a tank, chemical mixing meanstherein, a distributing pipe leading from said tank, a vertical pipeconnected to said distributing pipe and having valved normally closedleaders or laterals the vertical pipe and its leaders or lateralscontaining liquid, means controlled by said liquid for normally p1'eventing an operation of said chemical mixing means and operableconsequent to the venting of said liquid through an open distributingvalve to provide for an operation flopies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each,

of said chemical for preventing the tank.

Witnesses the escape of said liquid into C. N. FULLER, A. J. RICHARDS.

by addressi Washington, D. (3.

mg the Gemmissionei' of Eatents,

mixing means, and means

